Steam-heating system.



M. P MLLER.

STEAM HEATING SYSTEM. APPLIUATION FLED 2o. s, 1910.

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UNITED sirafrnlsfeaannu? onmenltaalfmitmlv Panic MILLER, or conrrnoswoonnaw Jurispr, Assronoa fro WARREN WEBSTER t COMPANY, A eoRjE-'one'rrcn onNEW JERSEY.

STEAMfHEATCNG SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atented June. 2, 1914.

Application tiled December 8, i910. Serial No. 596,198.

To all whom itmay/ concern Be it known that I, MAXIMILIAN SAUL MILLER, a citizen of the United Stat-es, and a resident of Collingswood, Camden county, State of New Jersey, have invented an lmrovement in Steam-Heating Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to steam heating systems and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the aecompanying drawings which forni a part thereof.

- The object of my invention is to provide a low pressure steam heating system with automaiic means for returning the water of condensation into the boiler irrespective of any excessive pressures which may abnormally exist from any cause. v

More particularly my object is to provide a gravity system of steam heating with auxiliary power means for forcing the Water of condensation from the returns into the boiler whenever the pressure in the boiler increases abnormally to such extent that the normal possible static head of water in the returns will not be sufficient Yto return the Wateragainst said abnormal `boiler pressure, the said power means being put into action under the control ofthe static head, whereby power means for returning the water to the boiler and at the same time operates automatically to insure the return of the water to the boiler under abnormal conditions.

My invention consists of certain features of construction for securing the above specitied objeetsin asteam heating system, all of which are fully described hereinafter and more specifically defined in the claims.

in the drawings is shown diagrammaticallv an elevation of a steam heating system embodying my invention;

2 is a boiler and supplies steam to the radiators by a steam supply main 3 and branch pipes leading' therefrom.

fi isone of the radiators, 5 is the branch steam pipe and 7 isthe modulation or control valve.

i is a. main valvein the steainmain, 9 is the return main `and8 the branch return leading f1 om the radiator and discharging into the return mais.

10 is a return trapl inthe branch return the low pressure operates economically' u nder normal conditions without the use of' from the radiator into the branch return pipe while preventing or restricting the escape of steam, and this device may conform to any of such devices now upon the market and of 4which there are numerous types better known as the thermostatic, float and mo tor types. Instead of such automatic traps, static valves may be employed as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The return main 9 and all others of a similar nature` may discharge into a receiver 11 lected and passed by pipes 12 and 13 into the boiler 2 by gravity. The receiver 11 is level in the boiler and is provided with an air vent 28 and with a float 2G which rocks Aa shaft to which is secured an arm 24 whose function will be hereinafter described.

,16 is a pump of any suitable construction and is connected at its suction port with the return pipe 12 by a pipe 17 the discharge port of the pump isconnected by a pipe 18 with the return pipe 13. The pipe 12 isvalso provided with a check valve 14 at a point between the discharge pipe '18 and suction pipe 17. The pump is driven by a motor 19 which by way of illustration is shown as an electric motor. The current to this motor is supplied by circuits 20 and 2,2 and is controlled by a'switch 21 of any suitable a chain 23 connecting; with the arm 24 actuated by the iioat 2G of the receiving tank.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described :#Assuming' that a normal low pressure, for example one-half to one pound,

supplied under the control of the valve 7 to the radiators. The water of condensation produced in the radiators is returned to the boiler by the return pipe 9, receiver 11, return pipe i12 and pipe .13, and in passing from t ,e pipe 12 to the pipe 13, it is passed through a check valve 14. The static head .in the pipe 12 insures the return of the water into the boiler against the pressure therein. Any water of condensation .from the. steam main 3 returns to the boiler by the drip pipel which discharges into the pipe 13. This drip pipe 15 may be provided with `a check valve 28 to permit water' of condensation to flow to pipe 13 but prevent flow 1 of Water from the` pipe 13 upward through located at a distance above the normal water construction. This switch is controlled by.

be in the steam boiler, the steam will be for permitting the passage of Water and air where the condensation water may be colsaid drip pipe 15. So longr as the low pressure is maintained in the boiler, the water from the returns will return auto matically by gravity. If now, from any cause the boiler pressure suddenly rises to such a degree that the normal. static head will not be sullicient to' return the water from the returns, the motor 19 is automatically put into operation by this increased pressure in the boiler exerted through the water column or static head and iloat and the pump 1G is then employed to positivelyI force the water into the boiler. This action does not occur until the water rises in the pipe 12 and within the receiver 11 sufficiently to operate the float 26 to ac tuate the switch 21 and thereby supply our rent to the motor 19. The check valve 14 prevents the pump being short circuited between its suction and discharge pipes. In this way, the pump positively delivers the water into the boiler against the abnormal boiler pressure and continues to do so, so long as the water of condensation is made to actuate the fioat. ,The pump should have a check valve which when the motor is at rest will not permit back flow of .water from the boiler into the receiver through the pump. If a rotary pump is employed as indicated, such a check valve may be located in the `pipe 18 at Q7.

This invention is especially useful in apartment houses and places where a janii tor is required to attend to many duties aside from the Steam heating and where accidental neglect .might cause serious trouble from low water in the boiler aside from the inconvenience from. defective steam heating.

I have shown the pump operated by an electric motor because it is a simple and elective application, and current is usually supplied from the street main and yhence requires no attention from the janitor, but I do not restrict myself to the use of an electric motor as any other type of motor, such as steam, gas, Water, etc., .may be used if so desired. It is also to be understood that the' controller 2l would be made of a suitable construction to suit the form of motor employed, but in any case, the controller would be operated under the control of the Water level in the receiver.

I have shown my invention in the form I prefer, but I do not limit myself to the details as they may be modiiied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In this applicatiop lno claim is made to the method of operation, as that will fornPsuba ject matter of a separate'application.

Having now described'my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-I `ters Patent is z- 1. The combination of a boiler, a system of'pipes leading from a higher level than the water in 'the boiler ,and connecting with the Vboiler for supplying it with water by gravity, means to prevent passage 'of water from the boiler backward into the system of pipes, power devices for forcing the water from the system` of. pipes into the boiler against abnormal pressure therein, and automatic means under the control of the steam pressure in the boiler for putting the power devices into or out of operation.

2. The combination of a boiler, a system of pipes leading from a higher level than the water in the boiler and connecting with the boiler `for supplying it with water by grav ity, means to prevent passage of water from the boiler backward into the system of pipes,`

.power devices for forcing the Water of condensation from the system of pipes into the boiler against abnormal pressure therein, and automatic means under the control of a static head of Water above the water level in the boiler supported by reason of the steam pressure in the boiler for putting the power devices into or out of operation.

3. The combination of a boiler, a system of pipes connecting with the boiler for supplying waterA to the boiler by gravity, a. check valve to prevent passage of water from the boiler backward into the system Of water supplying pipes, a pump having its suction and discharge connected with the supply system 0f pipes respectively upon each side of the check valve for forcing the water from the system of pipes into the boiler against abnormal pressure therein, al

motor for operating' the pump, and aut6- matic means under the control of the steam pressure in the boiler for, putting the motor into or out of operation.

Ll. Aboilerand awuter pipe for supplying water to the boiler by gravity, combined with a check valve in the water pipe to pre vent ow of water from the boiler backward into the water pipe, a pump connected in a. by pass pipe in the water pipe aboutthe check valve, a motor to operate the pump, a controller for putting the motor into or out of operation, and means governed by abnormal pressure in the boiler to operate the controller.

5. A boiler and a water pipe for supplying water to the boiler by gravity, combined with a check valve in the water pipe to prevent liow of Water from the boiler into th water pipe, a pump connected in a by pass pipe in the water pipe about the check valve, a receiver connected with the water pipe at a level above the water level in the boiler, a motor to operate the pump, a controiler for putting the motor into or out of operation, a float in the receiver and operated by the water therein governed by ab` normal pressure in the boiler, andconnecl` ing means leading from the float t0 Operai/e the controller. l

A. boiler and a water pipe for supply;

ias

zxgj Water to the boiler by gravity? combi'ned at 'a leve above the normal Water level of 10 {Wthfl 'nzhokv Valve in the Water plpe to prethe boiler for actvatng the controller. ''enL-now Iof Water from the boiler backward' n testimony of which invention, I hereby pass pipe in the, water pipe and about into the water pipe, amump connected in a unto set my hand.

the 'check Valve, an electric motor to operate MAX PAUL MILLER' the pump-gf@ controller and circuits to con- Wltnesses:

trol the operatlon of the motor, and a float E. K. LANNING,

actuated` device arranged the Water pipe H. D. FISLER. 

